Crossword Genius

Grass relaid in front, taking up the morning (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

informant

'grass' is the definition.
(I know that grass can be written as informant)

'relaid in front taking up the morning' is the wordplay.
'relaid' is an anagram indicator (letters laid again).
'taking' is an insertion indicator.
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'the morning' becomes 'am' (as in 12:00 AM).
'am' reversed gives 'ma'.
'in'+'front'='infront'
'infront' with letters rearranged gives 'infornt'.
'infornt' going around 'ma' is 'INFORMANT'.

(Other definitions for informant that I've seen before include "Grass" , "source of dope" , "gives us the gen" , "Snitch" , "Imparter of knowledge" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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